Hermes Transports Completely Electrically in the Inner Ring of Berlin

Hermes Germany is advancing its sustainability project “Green Delivery Berlin”: In the coming weeks, the entire inner S-Bahn ring in Berlin will be switched to electric delivery. 97 e-vans and 62 cargo bikes will ensure that around 680,000 households receive their shipments locally CO2-free.

(Berlin) The capital was declared a blueprint for sustainable city logistics by Hermes Germany in the summer of 2021. For the first time, the parcel logistics company created the structures to deliver shipments locally CO₂-free in a contiguous urban area covering 40 square kilometers. Other cities are expected to follow Berlin’s example. By the end of 2025, the parcel logistics company will be operating electrically on the last mile in 80 major German city centers. But even in Berlin, the wheels continued to turn.

Transformation of the Last Mile is a Continuous Adjustment Process

“The transformation of the last mile is a continuous adjustment process, so ‘Green Delivery Berlin’ has never meant stagnation for us,” explains Marco Schlüter, Chief Operations Officer of Hermes Germany. The parcel logistics company started about four years ago in the urban areas of Schöneberg, Kreuzberg, Prenzlauer Berg, Tiergarten, Mitte, and the government district. Soon, delivery will take place across the entire inner S-Bahn ring over an area of approximately 106 square kilometers, locally CO₂-free. The area extends from Gesundbrunnen in the north, through Ostkreuz and Südkreuz, to Westkreuz and the exhibition grounds.

“With the launch four years ago, we reached a significant milestone in electric delivery that we can now surpass,” Schlüter is pleased to announce. “Almost 15,000 football fields – that’s the area where we will now operate locally emissions-free in Berlin. I thank all colleagues and our partners on the last mile who make this possible and together drive forward a future-oriented parcel logistics!”

Hermes Germany relies on a mixed fleet for e-mobility in Berlin

Comparatively High Proportion of Cargo Bikes

With the complete transition of the last mile in the inner S-Bahn ring in the coming weeks, Hermes Germany will be able to deliver to a total of 67 postal code areas electrically. This means that around 680,000 households in Berlin will receive their Hermes shipments without local CO₂ emissions, and the approximately 400 Hermes parcel shops within this area will also be served exclusively electrically. The parcel logistics company thus saves about 600 tons of CO₂ per year.

To achieve the goal of a completely electrified inner S-Bahn ring, the current planning capacity includes 97 electric vans and 62 cargo bikes – the last vehicles are just before being integrated into the fleet. The high proportion of cargo bikes in the capital is a unique feature compared to other cities.

Each City with an Adapted Strategy

“There is no one-size-fits-all solution in the transformation of the last mile,” knows Martin Jugel, Sustainability Manager Operations Region East at Hermes Germany. “Each city requires its individually adapted strategy, even though we can now draw on very comprehensive experience in the electrification of urban areas.” Throughout the project realization, the implementation strategy has been regularly adjusted to changing conditions. For example, technological advances in e-vehicles and cargo bikes have significantly improved in the meantime.

The largest share of cargo bikes is currently starting in southwestern Berlin. “The conditions allow over 40 cargo bikes to start their delivery tours from the delivery base in Schöneberg, and another location in central Berlin serves as a launch base for nearly 20 cargo bikes,” explains Martin Jugel. “The collaboration with our partners on the last mile works flawlessly not only for electric delivery but also for delivery via cargo bike.”

For a functioning smart city logistics, micro-depots are needed. Finding locations for these in the cities is not easy

Six Locations Involved

A total of six locations are involved in the locally CO₂-free delivery with e-vehicles. Hermes Germany is also currently using a micro-depot at Messedamm in the west of the S-Bahn ring. The operator of the shared usage project is the railway subsidiary DB InfraGO, owner of the Charlottenburg Wilmersdorf district.

Photos: © Hermes Germany/Willing-Holtz